Assembling elevator lifting mechanism for typographical machines



y 12, 1932- J. KEEL ER 1,866,976

ASSEMBLING ELEVATOR LIFTING MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed May 26, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 72 AM f t i 625 L r 7/ J X88287.

July 12, 1932. j KEELER 1,866,976

ASSEMBLING ELEVATOR LIFTING MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed May 26, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jul 12, 1932.

I. J. KEELER ASSEMBLINC- ELEVATOR LIFTING MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed May 26, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3" "I HIHH HIH gtvue/wboz 1'. K'eeZer SLIM/Imp I. J. KEELER July 12, 1932.

ASSEMBLING ELEVATOR LIFTINGMECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed May 26, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1. J zeezer;

all for, my:

Patented July 12, 1932 Beer mamas Corr PATENT oFFicr.

IRVING JOHN KEELER, OF SIDNEY, NEW YORK ASSEMBIQING ELEVATOR LIFTTNG MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Application filed May 26,

This invention relates to type setting machines of the type known as linotype, intert pc and the like, and has for the primary object to provide mechanism for lifting the assembling elevator of such machines by power when a key is ressed by the operator.

A further object 0 the invention is to provide means for stopping the assembling elevator at any point on the upward motion thereof so that the matrices may be straightened.

A still further object is to provide apparatus for checking gravitation of the assembling elevator to normal position by means of an air check which permits of the elevator stopping quietly and without jar.

A still further object is to provide a novel power driven clutch together with a rack and pinion device for raising the elevator,

such mechanism being operated by a key,

preferably disposed adjacent to the space band key of the type setting machine, which key may be operated conveniently by pressure of the little finger of the operators left hand, a slight pressure upon said key permitting said clutch to slip so that the elevator may be raised slowing, while a firm pressure upon the key permits of the clutch being tightly engaged to raise the elevator so quickly.

With the above and other objects in View the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a linotype machine showing my improved elevator lifting apparatus applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the elevator lifting apparatus showing the same in normal position at the lowest limit of movement thereof,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation similar to Fig.

1930. Serial No. 455,83i.

77 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, more particularly to Figure 1, the matrices 10 of linotype machines are stored or enclosed in grooves in the magazine. By pressing a key 11 011 the keyboard the matrices are released one at a time as desired by the operator. These matrices gravitate through the grooves in the assembler entrance and are carried by a belt into the assembler 12 and downward in front of an assembler star which is revolving. The star hits the matrix and forces it upright into the assembling elevator 13. Space bands are applied between the words by pressing the space band key 14 on the left of the machine. When the desired number of matrices and space bands are assembled in the assembling elevator, it is then lifted upward by means of the assembling elevator lever 15 which is carried by a rock shaft 16 having a grip which the operator depresses with his right hand. W hen the assembling elevator arrives at the top of its movement, the elevator latch 17 hooks the elevator stop bar which is provided with a cut-out that allows the latch to catch. At this point a hinge pin releases the delivery pawl which in turn releases a delivery slide. The slide carries the matrices through the assembiiugelevator past the delivery channel rails 18 and into the first elevator jaw. The matrices are then carried down in front of the molds where the casting takes place. 7

In practice the operator must operate the assembling elevator about four thousand times during the working hours and after the delivery slide carries the line of matrices into the first elevator jaw, the assembling elevator gravitates with considerable noise and shock to its normal position. The present invention, therefore, seeks to eliminate this noise and shock as well as obviate the manual lifting of the elevator, and for this purpose employs a power driven mechanism designated in general by the numeral 19. The assembling'elevator lever 15 and rock shaft 16 are thus dispensed with although for the sake of clearness these parts have been retained in Figure 1 of the drawings and in practice these parts may also be retained for emergency purposes.

In carrying out the preferred embodiment of the invention, by referring more particularly to Fig. 4, it will be seen that a substant'ally U-shaped frame 20 is provided and the legs of the frame are secured by screws 21 or otherwise to a hanger 22, the upper end of which is secured to the delivery channel frame by means of a bolt 23, as more clearly shown in Figure 1. This bolt is a part of linotype machines now in general use so no alterations are necessary to mount the device to the left of the assembling elevator frame 24.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, a Z-bracket25 isprovided. One horizontal leg of the bracket extends underneath the assembling elevator frame 24 and supports the elevator. The other horizontal leg of the Z bracket' extends transversely across the top face of the upper leg of! the U-shaped' frame 20.

A rack 26 is secured by'screws 27 or otherwise at the upper end to the top horizontal leg of the z bracket 25. The rack slides in guide straps 28, best shown in Fi s. 2 and 5, which are secured by'screws 29 or otherwise to the top and bottom legs of the .J shaped frame 20; i

The rack isactuatedto raise the Z-bra'cket 25. and thereby lift the assembling elevator, and for-this. purpose a pinion 30'is mounted ona shaft 31, best shown-in Fig. 4, andmeshes with the rack., The shaft is journaled near one end in a. bearing 32 formed inthe'vertical, leg of the U-shaped frame 20. Adjacent to the pinion, the shaft is equipped with a malefriction clutch. member 33 Al driven shaft 34 is journaled in a bearing 35 formed inthe'hanger 22 and is equipped at the inner end with a female friction clutch member 36.

Theouter endiof theshaft 35 is equipped with against the free end of the shipper whereby to urge the shipper outwardly. The shipper is provided with a longitudinal slot 46 through which is passed the reduced neck 47 of the pinion shaft 30. A nut 48 is threaded onto the end of said shaft and loosely confines the shipper against the shoulder 49 of the pinion shaft. The spring pressed shipper normally holds the clutch members 33 and 36 disengaged, and when the shipper is moved inwardly against the pressure of the spring 44, as will be presentlydescribed, the clutch members are engager and rotate the pinion 30' which in turn elevates the rack 26 and through the instrlunentality of the Z-bracket 25lifts the assembling elevator, as best shown in Fig. 3, to the upper limit of its movement where the line of matrices are in position to be removed by the delivery slide.

The shipper 41 is operated" by key 50. which, as best shown in Fig. cated to the left of the space bandkey so that it may be conveniently operated by pressure of the little finger of the operators left hand. The key 501's provided with an; angular shank 51 which terminates in an'upht extension the same extending upwardly along the edge of the shipper,- asv shown best in Fig. 2, andha-vii ig an opening 53 at the upper end which receives the-pr ot pin 42 of the shipper whereby to pivotally mount the key. The lower end of the up right extension is provided with a lateral lug 54 which extends over the front face of the shipper and when-the key 50 is depressed this lug forces the shipper inwardly against the pressure of the spring 44 whereby to en gage the members 33 and 3G ofthe friction clutch, as best shown'in Fi 4. Upon releasepivoted 1 1sloof the key, obviously the spring will returnthe shipper and key tonorma'l position.

An air check is provided to eliminate noise and shock when the assembling elevator gravitates to initial position after each operation. By now referring to Figs. 2,- 8 and: 5, it will be seen that an air cylinder is securedby a clamp 56to the side-face-ofthe bottom horizontal leg of the u shaped frame 20 and bracket and on'the opposite'sido thereof from the rack 6. Screws 5? or simi-' lar connectors are used? to-fasten the clamp in position. The. stem 58 of the piston 59 is preferably passed through an opening in the top horizontal leg of the Z-bracket25 and is rigidly secured thereto by means of a nut 60. Thus the pistonis carried. upwardly in the cylinder when the bracket is moved upwardly by the rack 26 tor-aise the assembling elevator. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 7, the top cap of the cylinder is provided with per forations 61 which vent the cylinder to the atmosphere ahead of the piston so that the upward'movementof the-elevator is accomplished independent of air interferenc Downward movement of the elevator likewise is not obstructed by air interference until the piston reaches nearly the bottom of its downward stroke when it encounters an air cushin detail.

Referring now to Fig. 8 it will be seen that a star valve 62 is disposed in the bottom of the air cylinder. The bottom cap of the cylinder is provided with vent ports 63 which underlie the prongs of the valve so as to be closed when the valve is at its lowest limit of movement. The valve is provided with a stem 64, as best shown in Fig. 2, which slidably fits in a suitable opening formed axially in the bottom cap of the cylinder and provioes means for raising the valve to unseal the ports so that air may flow out of the cylinder in front of the piston during its downward stroke, as will presently be described. Suction of the piston will raise the valve suiticiently to unseal the ports during the upstroke of the piston so that the cylinder will be vented to the atmosphere.

A substantially -shaped trip rod 65. as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is connected to the valve stem 64. A clamp 66 is secured to the air cylinder and is provided with a guide eye 67 which slidably receives the shank of the trip rod. Said shank terminates in a la erally directed linger 68 which underlies the bottom edge of the shipper ll. The trip rod is also provided in the shank with a spring loop 69 and approximately opposite the loop the trip rod terminates in a laterally directed finger 70.

The finger 68 of the trip rod is struck by a laterally directed lug 71 carried by and disposed at the bottom of the rack 26 when the rack is elevated by throwing in the clutch. The valve 62 is thus opened, as shown in Fig. 3, and the spring loop 69 frictionally engages the side of the cylinder to hold the valve open during downward stroke of the piston while the elevator is descending so that the latter will not be affected by air pressure. However, just prior to the piston reaching the bottom of its stroke, a rod 72 which is secured at the upper end by the nut 60 to the Z-bracket 25, impinges against the laterally directed finger of the trip rod and dislodges the spring loop 69 so that the valve is closed by the force of the blow and seals the ports 53. The piston thus compresses the air ahead of it during the final stage of its descending movement where y the elevator is stopped quietly and without jar. The rod 72 is directed in its sliding movement by means of a guide eye 73 carried by a clamp 7 4 which is securedto the air cylinder 55.

The shipper is positively disengaged from the operating key 50 at the upper limit of movement of the assembling elevator. This is accomplished by the laterally directed finger 68 being forced against the lower edge of the shipper by the lug 71 on the rack, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, to raise the ship per vertically and dislodge the same from the laterally disposed lug 54 on the key shanln To permit of this vertical movement of the shipper a slot 7 5 is formed in the shipper to slidably receive the pivot pin 42 thereof, as shown best in Figs. 2 and l. The above mentionedslot 47 also permits of the shipper having vertical movement 011 the pinion shaft 4L9. When dislodged from the key the shipper is instantly forced outwardly by its spring 4314 to disengage the clutch, whereupon after removal of the line of matrices by the slide; as described in the opening paragraph of this description, the elevator is free to gravitate to initial position.

In order to limit movement of-the shipper under action of its spring 44, a screw 7 6 is threaded into an opening in the U-shaped frame 25 underneath the pivoted end of the shipper and serves as a stop against which the pivoted end of the shipper strikes. The screw may be advanced or retracted to ad'. just the length thereof for limiting the play of the shipper.

In operation the operator depresses the key 50 by pressure of the little finger of the left hand. A slight pressure causes the ship per to lightly engage the clutch members so that the same may slip and permit of the assembling elevator being elevated by the rack and pinion slowly. At any point during upward movement of the elevator the operator may release the key 50 thereby permitting the shipper to disengage the clutch so that the line of matrices may be straightened it necessary, and by virtue of the air cushion in the air cylinder underneath the piston thereof, the elevator will be held in the position at which it is stopped. The operator again depresses the key to continue upward movement of the elevator to delivery position.

Just prior to the upper limit of movement of the rack 26 the lug 71 will have engaged the finger 68 of the trip rod to open the valve 62 in the air cylinder and then in sequence the finger 68 will impinge against the shipper il and dislodge the same from the key lug he so that the clutch member will be positively disengaged as the elevator arrives at delivery position.

The spring loop 69 of the trip rod is engaged with the air cylinder when the elevator is in raised position so that the valve 62 is maintained open. During gravitation of'the elevator to initial position the piston 59 forces the air in the cylinder ahead of it through the vent ports 63. Just before the elevator arrives at its lowest limit of movement the rod 7 2 impinges against the lateral finger 70 of the trip rod and dislodges the spring loop 69 from the cylinder so that the valve is closed and an air cushion formed ahead of the piston, and thus the elevator by the clutch to raise the elevator, an air check for cushioning descent of the elevator,

.means for controlling the air check to maintain the elevator stationary at any desired point in its ascent, a spring pressed shipper .for controlling the clutch, and a manually operated key for actuating the shipper.

2. In a linotype machine, the combination of an assembling elevator, a power driven clutch, a shipper for controlling the clutch, a pivoted key for actuating the shipper, means operated by the clutch to raise the elevator, means for automatically actuating the shipper to disengage the clutch when the elevator arrives at its upper limit of move ment, an air check for cushioning descent of the elevator, and a valve for controlling the air check to maintain the elevator stationary at any desired point in its ascent.

3. In a linotype machine, the combination of an assembling elevator, a power driven clutch, a rack and pinion device operated by the clutch for raising the elevator, a spring pressed shipper for controlling the clutch, said shipper being adapted to yield vertically, a manually operated key for depressing the shipper to engage the clutch, a trip rod for raising the shipper vertically to dislodge the key therefrom and permit the shipper to disengage the clutch, and means for actuating the trip rod when the elevator arrives at its upper limit of movement.

4. In a linotype machine, the combination of an assembling elevator, a power driven clutch, means operated by the clutch to raise the elevator, means for controlling the clutch, an air cylinder, a piston therein operated as a unit with said elevator raising means, and an outlet valve in said cylinder normally closed to form an air cushion in the cylinder underneath the piston to hold the elevator in any desired position of its upward movement.

5. In a linotype machine, the combination of an assembling elevator, a bracket supporting the elevator, an air check connected to the bracket for cushioning the descent of the elevator, a power driven clutch, a rack and pinion device operatively connected to the bracket for raising the elevator, and means for controlling said clutch.

6. In a linotype machine, the combination of an assembling elevator, a power driven clutch, a rack and pinion device operated by the clutch for raising the elevator, means for controlling the clutch, an air cylinder, a piston therein operatively connected to the rack for movement as a unit therewith, an

outlet valve in the bottom of the cylinder, a trip rod adapted to open the valve, a projection carried by the rack for actuating the trip rod at the upper limit of movement of the elevator, and a rod movable as a unit with the elevator for actuating the trip rod near the end of the downward movement of the elevator to close the valve and form an air check underneath the piston.

7. In a linotype machine, the combination" is of an assembling elevator, means for raising the elevator, an air cylinder, a piston therein operatively connected to said means for movement as a unit therewith, an outlet valve in the cylinder, a trip rod adapted to open said' valve, a projection carried by said means for actuating the trip rod at the upper limit of movement of the elevator, a spring projection on the trip rod adapted to frictionally engage the cylinder and hold the valve open, and a'" rod movable as a unit with the elevator for actuating the trip rod near the end of the downward movement of the elevator whereby to dislodge said spring projection and close the valve to form an air check underneath the T piston.

8. In a linotype machine, the combination of an assembling elevator, a friction clutch, a driven pulley for driving the idling member of the clutch, a spring pressed pivoted'ti;

shipper for s lifting the movable member of the clutch, a rack and pinion device operated by the clutch to raise the elevator, a key for depressing the shipper to engage the clutch,

said shipper being adapted to slide vertically 1C5 out of the oath of movement of the key, and a. trip red operated by the rack at the upper limit of movement of the elevator to raise the shipper and disengage said shipper from saic key for permitting the shipper to disen gage said clutch.

9. In a linotype machine, the combination of an assembling elevator, a power driven clutch, a shipper for controlling the clutch, a

pivoted key for actuating the shipper, means operated by the clutch to raise the elevator, means for automatically actuating the shipper to disengage the clutch at the upper limit of movement of the elevator, an air check cylinder, a piston therein, a valve for controlling the discharge of air from said cylinder, a trip rod for operating said valve, suction of the piston permitting of said valve opening during iifting of the elevator, means for locking said valve open at the up- H lat.

outlet ports in the bottom of said cylinder, a star valve having the prongs overlying said ports, a stem for said valve, a trip rod carried by said stem and adapted to open said valve, a projection carried by said means for actuating the trip rod at the upper limit of movement of the elevator, a spring projection on the trip rod adapted to frictionally engage the cylinder and hold the valve open, and a rod movable as a unit with the elevator for actuating the trip rod near the end of the downward movement of the elevator to dislodge said spring projection and cause said star valve to seal said outlet ports whereby to form an air check underneath the piston.

11. The combination with any elevator of a type setting machine of a power driven clutch, rack and pinion mechanism operated by the clutch to raise the elevator, a spring pressed shipper for controlling the clutch, a manually operated key for actuating the shipper, and an air check for cushioning descent of the elevator.

12. The combination with any elevator of a type setting machine of a power driven clutch, a shipper for controlling the clutch, a pivoted key for actuating the shipper, means operated by the clutch to raise the elevator, means for automatically actuating the shipper to disengage the clutch when the elevator arrives at its upper limit of movement, an air check for cushioning descent of the elevator, and a valve controlling the air check to maintain the elevator stationary at any desired point in its ascent.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

IRVING JOHN KEELER. [L. 5.] 

